Window shade roller



I July 20, 1948. F E 4 2,445,452

WINDOW SHADE ROLLER Filed Dec. 13, 1945 INVENTOR. #02405 '5. P550 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW SHADE ROLLER Horace S. Peed, Denver, 0010.

Application December 13, 1945, Serial No. 634,655

Claims.

This invention relates to window shades and analogous devices, and more particularly to roller-supported, flexible-sheet type window shades. curtains, and the like, and has as an object to provide improved roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means for such devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means adapted for operative association with conventional shade roller mounting brackets.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means effective in use to obviate many of the disadvantages of conventional spring-type shade rollers.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means susceptible of ready operative adaptation, with identical advantage, to and for the selective manipulation of particularly prepared new rollers or conventional spring-type rollers such as are now in general use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and operative combination of elements constituting spring-free window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and operative combination of elements constituting window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means susceptible of selective operative association with particularly prepared or conventionally standard roller constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and operative combination of elements constituting Window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means adapted to modify but one end of the roller without in any way altering the operative relationship of such roller with conventional rollermounting brackets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved Window shade roller mounting, actuating, and positioning unit that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture and operative installation, susceptible of practical development in various ornamental aspects from various readilyavailable specific materials, convenient of manipulation to the accomplishment of the ends for which designed, and operatively eflicient throughout a long life of practical use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved unit as assembled and arranged for practical use in association with a shade roller. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Figure 1 with separable elements of the unit assembly spaced apart for greater clarity of illustration. Figure 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 3--3 of Figure 1 and showing the unit of said latter figure in operative association with a conventional shade and roller assembly. Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the indicated line 44 of Figure 3, shade and roller elements of said latter figure being omitted. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail section, similar to Figure 3, of the construction employed in adapting the unit to use with particularly prepared shade rollers.

Conventional spring-type roller shade assemblies long extensively used in association with windows and for analogous purposes are quite generally similar in operative principle and construction and characterized by operative disadvantages and annoyances too Well known to require comment. The conventional roller shade assembly includes a straight, cylindrical roller of suitable size and material, commonly wood, a suitably-sized sheet of flexible material, such as fabric, paper, or the like, secured at one end to and rolled closely about the roller, a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially from one end of the roller for journaled reception in the bearing aperture of a mounting bracket, an elongate bore axially and opening through the other end of the roller, a cap fixedly closing the otherwise open bore end in fixed connection with the adjacent end of an elongate coil spring housed within the roller bore, a stem axially and rotatably intersecting said cap and extending interiorly of said spring to fixed connection of its inner end to the spring inner end, whereby rotation of said stem relative to the cap and roller acts to apply torsional stress to said spring, a ratchet connection between said stem and cap, and an angular mounting lug engageable in a slotted mounting bracket formed on the exterior end of said stem outwardly beyond said ratchet connection. All of the foregoing is usual roller shade construction typical, with slight mechanical variations, of the devices presently in use, and is cited only to identify the elements and relationships wherewith the improved unit may be operatively associated to preserve the major investment of existing installations represented by the conventional roller and its shade sheet.

The improved unit is designed to eliminate the spring and ratchet elements of conventional constructions and to retain, with enhanced convenience, facility, and advantage of operative manipulation, the conventional roller and shade assembly, to which end the unit is designed to be mounted on and to cooperate with the bored end of a conventional roller in the manner shown in Figure 3; and in such'mounting andcooperation to engage with the usual roller brackets wherein such roller shade assemblies are normally carried. In adapting the improved unit to and for opera"- tive association with conventional shade rollers;

the latter are modified by cutting away from the. roller the cap closing the roller bored erichand removing from the said roller the spring and; stemassembly associated with said cap, thus opening the bore at the roller end to free and unobstructed access; the fixed pin atthe other roller end and the-flexible sheet and roller association'being unidisturbed-and retained'to accomplish their original functions in the manner for which they were initially assembled. a P The improved unit to be associated with the roller shade assembly as above modified includes a peripherally-grooved wheel iii, preferably moulded;=pressed; or otherwise suitably formed as an integral element from any material having the requisite properties or" hardnessand durability,

such as metal,'various'plastics, hard rubber, and the like; through one side face whereof opens an axially-"disposed, convenient1y-cylindrical recess of relativeconsiderable size and of an axiallength less than that ofsaid wheels 'Asclearly appears in the views of-the drawing, the wheel 18 preferably has a maximum diameter slightly g'reater'than thatof the roller wherewith it'isto cooperate, a recess "diameter equal" to or slightly less than thatof the roller bore, a'recess axial depth suchas to leave a web of substantial thickness' completing the uninterrupted wheel side face; aperipheral groove" width "axially 'of the wheel slightlyless than twice the diameter' ofa cord llto be'received-therein, and aperip heral groove depthradially-of the wheel slightly less than"the said cord diameter. 'The peripheral groove profilernay'conform with any'specific out line" suited to the functional association of wheel land cord 1 l,-' andpreferably includes rounded corners adapted for large-area contact with cord surfaces engaged-thereagainst. The wheel 15 axial recess is'adapted'to telescopically receive and engage with a suitably-sized mounting boss l2 formed for such pu'rposeas oron the end of a" cylindrical plug 1 l 3 of relatively soft wood or similar material, the length ofwhich plug 13 exterior to'the wheel H1 is sized to telescopically engage andfit closely within the bore "I l of a 0011- ventional spring-type roller l5 modifiedby-removal of its end closure cap and associated spring as above set forth. The engaged wheel-18 axial recess and boss 12 surfaces may be conjoined by means of glue, cement; and the like, to inhibit relative-motion therebetween, and a gudgeon pin It, having'a shouldered, cylindrical head'll, engages through a hole formed for such purpose axially through the Wheel ['0 unrecessed faceweb and is driven or pressed into axial penetration of the boss I2 and bearing relation of itshead sh'cul-* der against the wheel It outer facesuch as will secure said wheel in firmly-seated relation on said boss with the gudgeonpin head I! projecting ax-- ia'lly andexteriorly beyond the so-mounted wheel.

The plug [3 is joined to and fixed within the bore of the roller I5 with the adjacent face of the wheel I?) abutted against the roller end, any suitable and convenient means for fixedly interconnecting said plug and roller being employed, so that manipulations had with rotative efiect on said wheel are transmitted through the boss l2 and .plug 13 to rotate the roller l5 and correspondingly wind and unwind relative thereto a flexible shade sheet l8 secured. at one end to said roller in the usual manner.

Ihe wheel-equipped end of the roller 15 is rotatively engaged and operatively associated with amounting cup or bridle [9 adapted for remov- .able' and"replaceable, non-rotatable connection with a conventional slotted roller shade bracket. The cup 19' is preferably cast, moulded, or pressed from' suitable rigid "material, conveniently the same as that forming the wheel l6, and comprises ahaxially-short, cylindrical base portion having a diameter greater than the maximum wheel diameter, a semi-circular; ma'rginalifla ge ail-forming a skirt integrally outstandi 1" V frorn'one face of said base portionfya onform' ably-arcuate, 'marginal finger 2i 'inte r a standing axially from the base portlqnj hi} secting relation with the marginal not Qccu; pied by the skirt 20 andpartiall'y 'compleigingthe orhital projection of the latter, a hole xially in a metallic central core 23 wherein and; are formed the gudg'eon pin head mount; g and -1ug"22 ,'i1 1' 'substj ntiallythe manner ill'us trated "by Figure 3. The depth 'interha'l diameter'of thecup formed by the skirtjfiljfinger ZL'andb'ase portion aresuch as to freel e'celifej and house the wheel Hl when the g'udgeon p head I? is journaled in the hole providedlri' the: base portion forsuch .purpose, and the lugll2 2gis" sized and shaped to engagefwithin eater/e tional mounting slot ofjantordinary rollershade" mounting bracket, the disposition ofls'aitL'lu' "on" its cup; being so correlated with the'posit'ions or; the slgirt: and finger as to, dispose 'said'fin the' bo'ttoni and said skirt at 'thet'op of sembly when bracket-mountedj for'opera cup internal diameter is so kprbportioniedto the Wheel peripheral groove ni'n iniiin i "diameter is to leave a space between the groove'b the mounted wheel andthe skirtjandfinger inn '1; surfaces slightly less than thejdiametefof h cord 1 f," so that-when said cord is engag e'd th between it is compressed slightlyfby'anih df frictional relation with said bottomjandsur V thereby," mi imi in endish 'yr and associated rollerto ro te r'e la" wrapped one and one half times about and in the peripheral groove of the wheel l so that the cord loops lie side by side in the upper arc of the groove and the cord lengths depend from opposite sides of the wheel, and theso-corded wheel is then entered into the mounting cup l 9 with the finger 2| engaging between and separating the depending cord lengths and the skirt 2H frictionally embracing the double loop wheel periphery. As so arranged and assembled, the improved unit is ready for mounting and use, it being necessary only to insert the pin end of the roller in the conventional bracket, engage the lug 22 at the other roller end in the usual slotted bracket, and the assembly is mounted with the cord II lengths depending from one end of the assembly. When and as so mounted, a pull on one of the cord lengths operates to rotate the wheel, roller and shade assembly in one direction for extension or retraction of the shade sheet relative to the roller, while a pull on the other cord length operates to rotate the assembly in the opposite direction for reversal of shade travel, the cup 19 being held by the lug 22 against rotation while the roller assembly rotates on and about its fixed pin at one end and the journal mounting of the gudgeon pin head I! in the cup base at its other end. Due to the extent of its length engaged therewith, the frictional grip of the cord I i about the wheel It is greater than the friction between said cord and the cup [9 skirt and finger elements, so that while the cord friction relative to the mounting cup is sufiicient to at all times hold the shade and roller in any adjusted position, a pull on either of the depending cord lengths functions to rotate the wheel and roller relative to the cup rather than to slip the cord about the wheel.

When it is desired to associate the improved unit in and with new roller shade constructions, as distinguished from use of the unit to convert existing roller shade assemblies, the bored roller l and plug l3 may be replaced by a single, solid roller construction I5 having an integral axial boss 12' formed on one of its ends to engage With and mount the wheel It, as shown in Figure 5, the other end of said roller I5 being furnished with an axially-disposed fixed mounting pin in the usual and conventional manner. Use of the solid roller it contributes to convenience and economy of new roller shade assembly in that it obviates the expense and trouble of the rollerbcring operation and avoids the waste incident to removal and discard of the conventional cap, spring, and stem elements of spring-type rollers.

Since many changes, variations, and modifications in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a cylindrical roller havine a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially from one of its ends and a flexible sheet operatively associated with and for extension and retraction relative to said roller, of a peripherallygrooved wheel fixed to and in axial coincidence with the other roller end, an actuating cord frictionally engaging about said wheel in said groove, a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially and exteriorly from said wheel, a mounting cup housing said wheel in frictional engagement with the groove-positioned cord, an axial journal bearing 6 in said cup rotatably accommodating said wheel spaced slots longitudinally of the cup cylindrical wall for the accommodation of depending lcord portions, and a bracket-engageable angular mounting lug fixedly projecting axially'and exteriorly from said cup.

2. In a roller shade assembly having a cylindrical roller equipped with a fixed, axially-projecting mounting pin at one end and a flexible sheet associated with and for extension and retraction relative to said roller, roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means comprising a peripherally-grooved wheel fixed to and in axial coincidence with the other roller end, an actuating cord engaging circumferentially and frictionally about said wheel in said groove and depending from opposite sides thereof, a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially and exteriorly from said wheel, a mounting cup rotatably housing said wheel in journaled relation with said wheel pin and frictional engagement with the wheelmounted cord, and an angular lug axially and exteriorly of said cup bracket-engageable to mount and non-rotatably hold the latter.

3. In a roller shade assembly having a cylindrical roller equipped with a fixed, axially-projecting mounting pin at one end and a flexible sheet associated with and for extension and retraction relative to said roller, roller mounting, actuating, and positioning means comprising a peripherally-grooved wheel fixed to and in axial coincidence with the other roller end, an actuating cord engaging circumferentially and frictionally about said wheel in said groove and depending from opposite sides thereof, a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially and exteriorly from said wheel, a mounting cup rotatably housing said wheel in journaled relation with said wheel pin and frictional engagement with the wheelmounted cord, spaced slots longitudinally of the cylindrical cup wall for accommodation of the depending cord portions, and an angular lug fixed axially and exteriorly of said cup bracketengage'able to mount and non-rotatably hold the latter.

4. Roller mounting, positioning, and actuating means for operative association with roller shade assemblies, comprising a wheel mountable on and in fixed, axially-coincident relation with one end of the assembly roller, a mounting pin fixedly projecting axially from said wheel, a groove peripherally of said wheel, an actuating cord having a diameter greater than said groove depth engaging circumferentiall and frictionally about said wheel in said groove and depending from opposite sides thereof, a mounting cup rotatably housing said wheel in journaled relation with said wheel pin and frictional engagement with the wheel-mounted cord, spaced slots longitudinally of the cylindrical cup wall for accommodation of the depending cord portions, and a bracket-engageable angular lug fixedly projecting axially and exteriorly from said cup.

5. Roller mounting, positioning, and actuating means for operative association with roller shade assemblies having roller elements formed with an axial, cylindrical boss on one each of their ends, comprising an axially-recessed wheel telescoped over and fixed to said roller end boss, a shouldered gudgeon pin axiall intersecting said wheel and engaging said boss to dispose its outer end as a mounting pin axially exterior to said wheel, an actuating cord engaging circumferentially and frlctionally about said wheel and depending from opposite sides thereof, a mounting cup housing 

